Banjo capodastro

ABSTRACT

A five-string banjo capodastro (or capo) including a blocklike member having a rigid tablike member fixedly attached thereto for engaging or fretting the fifth string exclusively of the banjo, a length of line for circumferentially engaging the neck of the banjo to aid in holding the tablike member in suitable position and an adjustment peg frictionally received in a hole bored in the blocklike member for applying tension to the line. One end of the line is attached to tablike member and the other end thereof is attached to the adjustment peg with a midportion of the line extending a spaced distance beneath the remaining four strings and through a hole bored in the blocklike member. A twisting movement of the peg applies tension to the line thus tightly clamping the blocklike member to the neck of the banjo enabling the rigid tablike member to firmly depress the fifth string at various selected locations along the length thereof.

United States Patent [1 1 Owen, Ill

[ BANJO CAPODASTRO Sterling W. Owen, Ill, Rt. 1, Box 96, Tunica, Miss. 38675 [22] Filed: Dec. 6, 1974 [2|] Appl. No.: 530,134

[76] Inventor:

Primary ExaminerJoseph W. Hartary Assistant Examiner.lohn F. Gonzales Attorney, Agent, or FirmJohn R. Walker, lll

14 1 Sept. 9, 1975 5 7 ABSTRACT A five-string banjo capodastro (or capo) including a blocklike member having a rigid tablike member fixedly attached thereto for engaging or fretting the fifth string exclusively of the banjo, a length of line for circumferentially engaging the neck of the banjo to aid in holding the tablike member in suitable position and an adjustment peg frictionally received in a hole bored in the blocklike member for applying tension to the line. One end of the line is attached to tablike member and the other end thereof is attached to the adjustment peg with a midportion of the line extending a spaced distance beneath the remaining four strings and through a hole bored in the blocklike member. A twisting movement of the peg applies tension to the line thus tightly clamping the blocklike member to the neck of the banjo enabling the rigid tablike member to firmly depress the fifth string at various selected locations along the length thereof.

8 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures BANJO CAPODAS'IRO BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to banjo tuning devices and more particularly to a capodastro for tuning the fifth string of a five-string banjo.

2. Description of the Prior Art Applicant is aware of the following U.S. patents: the Wood U.S. Pat. No. 370,172; the Lowe U.S. Pat. No. 3,191,480; the Simms U.S. Pat. No. 3,227,028; the Mil- Iiken U.S. Pat. No. 3,329,055; the Dunlop U.S. Pat. No. 3,598,012; and the Valentino U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,680,427. and 3,722,346. None of the above patents suggest or disclose applicants device. The necessity of a fifth string capo is clearly stated in the above-mentioned U.S. Pat. No. 3,329,055. Further, the problems associ ated with a fifth string capo have prevailed for almost a century as evidenced by the above-mentioned Wood patent. Since Mr. Wood's disclosure, numerous attempts have been made to improve upon the concept of his patent and the present invention is also directed towards that end. Further, it should be mentioned that the present invention is more specifically an improvement over the above-mentioned Milliken U.S. Pat. No. 3,329,055.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed towards overcoming the problems and disadvantages of prior fifth string banjo capos. The concept of the present invention is to provide a five-string banjo capodastro (or capo) which includes a blocklike member having a rigid tablike member fixedly attached thereto for engaging or fretting the fifth string exclusively of the banjo, a length of line for circumferentially engaging the neck of the banjo to aid in holding the tablike member in suitable position, and an adjustment peg frictionally received in a hole bored in the blocklike member for applying tension to the line. One end of the line is attached to the tablike member and the other end thereof is attached to the adjustment peg with a midportion of the line extending a spaced distance beneath the remaining four strings. Twisting the peg within the hole applies tension to the line thus tightly clamping the blocklike member to the neck of the banjo causing the rigid tablike member to firmly depress the fifth string. Therefore, moving the capo to various locations along the length of the neck may be quickly and easily accomplished at the discretion of the user.

The advantages of the capo of the present invention are numerous. For example, the rigid blocklike member, being firmly clamped to the neck of the banjo by a non-elastic line prevents the capo from being unintentionally moved along the neck or at least movement beyond stationary frets is precluded. Secondly, the thickness of the neck of a typical banjo varies along its length which creates an aggravation for certain prior capos. The present invention allows for positive grip of the capo even though it is not necessary to tighten it as tight as if it were depending upon an elastic element to hold it in place. Additionally, elastic elements deteriorate rather rapidly and when the elastic becomes weak the capo inadvertently moves to an out of tune position. Third, the non-elastic line which circumferentially engages the neck of the banjo is very small in crosssection, eg. one mm. in diameter or less. Therefore,

the line is so small that it is not noticeable by the player, i.e., certain prior capos are rather bulky and bothersome to the player which oftentimes have a tendency to adversely affect the skill of the player. Fourth, the capo of the present invention has a harmonious appearance. In fact, the adjustment knob or peg associated with applicants capo preferably is manufactured to resemble the tuning peg for the fifth string of the banjo and the blocklike member preferably is manufactured to resemble the structure of the neck member of the banjo. In other words, the capo of the present invention has the appearance of being a part of the original banjo. Fifth, the capo of the present invention remains affixed to the banjo when the banjo is being played in a key which does not require a fifth string capo. This has two advantages: the capo can be brought into use more quickly than one that has to be attached, and the capo cannot become lost or misplaced.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the banjo capo of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the capo of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the capo of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of a fivestring banjo neck depicting the capo of the present invention suitably engaged therewith.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken as on the line VV of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 showing the capo of the present invention in a partially installed condition.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The capodastro device 11 or capo of the present invention is intended for clampingly engaging the neck member, as at 13, of a five-string banjo. The complete banjo is not shown in the drawing but the neck member 13 thereof and the five strings are depicted, i.e., the first four strings being characterized by the numerals 1 through 4 and the fifth string being of shorter length is characterized by the numeral 5.

The device 11 includes rigid blocklike means, as at 15, for engaging or fretting the fifth string 5 of the banjo while the remaining four strings I through 4 thereof remain unaffected by the blocklike means 15. Also included is a length of line 17 for circumferentially engaging the neck member 13 of the banjo to aid in holding the rigid blocklike means 15 in selected numerous positions with one end of the line, as at 19, being attached to the blocklike means 15, i.e., in a manner to be fully disclosed, and a midportion thereof, as at 21, extending a spaced distance beneath the remaining four string 1 through 4. The device also includes adjustment means, as at 23, coacting with the rigid blocklike means 15 and the line 17 for selectively applying tension in varying degrees to the line 17 thus clamping the rigid blocklike means 15 to the neck member 13 of the banjo.

The blocklike means 15 alluded to above includes a main body member 25 which may be formed from hardwood or the like and a tablike member 27 which may be formed from brass or the like. The tablike member 27 is fixedly attached to the main body mem' ber 25 in any well known manner as with screws 29 or the like. From FIGS. 4 and 5 of the drawing it may clearly be seen that the tablike member 27 reaches a predetermined distance over the finger board, characterized by the numeral 31, of the banjo to elampingly engage exclusively the fifth string 5. The finger board 31 includes the usual fixed frets 32. It should be understood that the main body member 25 and the tablike member 27 may integrally be formed from a high density plastic or the like without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

The tablike member 27 is provided with an aperture, as at 33, for facilitating attaching the line 17 thereto, i.e., the line 17 passing through the aperture 33 as clearly shown in FIG. 1 of the drawing.

The blocklike means 15 preferably includes guide means, as at 35, for guidingly constraining the line 17 whereby the tension being applied to the line aids in assuring optimum engagement of the tablike member 27 with the fifth string of the banjo. The guide means 35 preferably consists of a hole through the blocklike means through which a section of the midportion 21 of the line 17 passes.

The main body member has a portion thereof, as at 37, compatibly shaped to the contour of the neck member 13 of the banjo for contiguous engagement with the neck member as clearly shown in H68. 4 and 5 of the drawing.

The adjustment means 23 alluded to above includes a peg member 39 cooperating with the main body member 25 and the line 17 for selectively applying tension in varying degrees to the line 17. More specifically, the peg member 39 includes a knob portion 41 and a shaft portion 43 and the main body member 25 is provided with a bore, as at 45, for frictionally receiving the shaft portion 43. Additionally, an end 47 of the line 17 is attached to the peg member 39 whereby twisting movement of the peg member 39 in the bore 45 is effective in applying tension to the line 17 thus clamping the tablike member 27 in fretting engagement with the fifth string 5 of the banjo. The shaft portion 43 preferably is provided with an aperture 49 for allowing the line 17 to pass therethrough. The ends 19, 47 of the line 17 respectively are attached to the tablike member 27 and the shaft portion 43 in any well known manner as by knots 51, 53. It should be noted that when the guide means consists of a hole through the blocklike means 15, the line 17 is passed therethrough before the ends 19, 47 of the line 17 are attached to the tablike member 27 and the shaft portion 43 respectively. More specifically, when it is desired to affix the capo device 11 to the neck member 13 ofa banjo, the end 19 of the line 17 is preferably first attached to the tablike member 27 and the end 47 of the line is then positioned beneath the first four strings of the banjo, around the bottom of the neck 13 of the banjo and through the hole in the blocklike means 15. Next, the end 47 of the line is attached to the shaft portion 43.

From the above disclosure it can readily be seen that the usual frets 32 prevent movement of the capo device 11 from inadvertent movement to an out of tune position. Therefore, the device 11 is highly reliable and yet may quickly and easily be changed from one music key to another by simply twisting the shaft portion 43 in a direction to slacken the tension on the line 17 thus enabling the capo device 11 to be moved beyond the frets 32 to the desired position. Also, the capo device 11 can remain affixed to the neck member 13 of the banjo even when the banjo is being played in a key which does not require the use of the capo device 11. More specifically, when it is desired to play the banjo in a key which does not require the use of the capo device 11, the capo device 11 is merely moved to an inoperative position adjacent the peg 55 provided on the banjo for adjusting the tension of the fifth string 5 of the banjo. In this position, the tablike member 27 does not engage the fifth string 5 of the banjo since the fifth string 5 angles downwardly adjacent the peg 55 so that the tablike member 27 cannot engage the fifth string 5. in this manner, the capo device 11 can remain permanently affixed to the neck member 13 of the banjo to allow the capo device to be capable of being quickly brought into an operative position and to prevent the capo device from become lost or misplaced. it should be noted that the main body member 25 of the blocklike means 15 may be provided with a cutaway portion 57 on one side thereof for allowing the capo device 11 to be easily positioned adjacent the peg 55 when it is desired to play the banjo in a key which does not require the use of the capo device 11 without interfering with the use of the peg 55. Likewise, the bore 45 in the main body member 25 of the blocklike member 15 is preferably angled away from the cutaway portion 57 so that when the peg member 39 is received in the bore 45 and the capo device ll is in the inoperative position adjacent the peg 55 there is no interference with the use of the peg 55.

Although the invention has been described and illustrated with respect to a preferred embodiment thereof, it is to be understood that it is not to be so limited since changes and modifications may be made therein which are Within the full intended scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A capodastro device for clampingly engaging the neck member of a five string banjo, said device comprising rigid blocklike means for fretting the fifth string of the banjo while the remaining four strings thereof remain unaffected thereby, a length of line for circumfer entially engaging the neck member of the banjo to aid in holding said rigid blocklike means in a selected one of numerous positions with one end of said line being attached to said blocklike means and a midportion thereof extending a spaced distance beneath the remaining four strings, and adjustment means coacting with said rigid blocklike means and said line for selectively applying tension in varying degrees to said line thus clamping said rigid blocklike means to the neck member of the banjo,

2. The device of claim 1 in which said rigid blocklike means includes a main body member and a tablike member fixedly attached to said main body member for reaching a predetermined distance over the fingerboard of the banjo to clampingly engage exclusively the fifth string thereof.

3. The device of claim 2 in which said tablike member is provided with an aperture for facilitating attaching said line to said tablike member with said line passing through said aperture.

4. The device of claim 3 in which said rigid blocklike means includes guide means for guidingly constraining said line whereby the tension being applied thereto aids in assuring optimum engagement of said tablike member with the fifth string of the banjo,

5. The device of claim 4 in which said guide means includes a hole extending through said rigid blocklike means.

6. A capodastro device for permanently elampingly engaging the neck member of a five string banjo. said device comprising a main body member having a portion thereof compatibly shaped to the contour of the neck member of the banjo for contiguous engagement therewith, a tablike member fixedly attached to said main body member for reaching a predetermined distance over the finger board of the banjo to exclusively selectively engage the fifth string thereof, a length of line having one end thereof attached to said tab member for eircumferentially engaging the neck of the banjo to aid in holding said tab member in a selected one of numerous positions with a mid-portion of said line extending a spaced distance beneath the remaining four strings, and a peg member cooperating with said main body member and said line for selectively applying tension in varying degrees to said line, said main body member being provided with a bore for frictionally receiving said peg member and the end of said line remotely disposed from said one end thereof being attached to said peg member whereby twisting movement of said peg member is effective in applying tension to said line thus clamping said tablike member in fretting engagement with the fifth string of the banjo.

7. The device of claim 6 in which said main body member includes guide means for guidingly constraining said line whereby the tension being applied thereto aids in assuring optimum engagement of said tablike member with the fifth string of the banjo.

8. The device of claim 6 in which said guide means includes a hole for extending through said main body member.

I i I k '0 

1. A capodastro device for clampingly engaging the neck member of a five string banjo, said device comprising rigid blocklike means for fretting the fifth string of the banjo while the remaining four strings thereof remain unaffected thereby, a length of line for circumferentially engaging the neck member of the banjo to aid in holding said rigid blocklike means in a selected one of numerous positions with one end of said line being attached to said blocklike means and a mid-portion thereof extending a spaced distance beneath the remaining four strings, and adjustment means coacting with said rigid blocklike means and said line for selectively applying tension in varying degrees to said line thus clamping said rigid blocklike means to the neck member of the banjo.
 2. The device of claim 1 in which said rigid blocklike means includes a main body member and a tablike member fixedly attached to said main body member for reaching a predetermined distance over the finger-board of the banjo to clampingly engage exclusively the fifth string thereof.
 3. The device of claim 2 in which said tablike member is provided with an aperture for facilitating attaching said line to said tablike member with said line passing through said aperture.
 4. The device of claim 3 in which said rigid blocklike means includes guide means for guidingly constraining said line whereby the tension being applied thereto aids in assuring optimum engagement of said tablike member with the fifth string of the banjo.
 5. The device of claim 4 in which said guide means includes a hole extending through said rigid blocklike means.
 6. A capodastro device for permanently clampingly engaging the neck member of a five string banjo, said device comprising a main body member having a portion thereof compatibly shaped to the contour of the neck member of the banjo for contiguous engagement therewith, a tablike member fixedly attached to said main body member for reaching a predetermined distance over the finger board of the banjo to exclusively selectively engage the fifth string thereof, a length of line having one end thereof attached to said tab member for circumferentially engaging the neck of the banjo to aid in holding said tab member in a selected one of numerous positions with a mid-portion of said line extending a spaced distance beneath the remaining four strings, and a peg member cooperating with said main body member and said line for selectively applying tension in varying degrees to said line, said main body member being provided with a bore for frictionally receiving said peg member and the end of said line remotely disposed from said one end thereof being attached to said peg member whereby twisting movement of said peg member is effective in applying tenSion to said line thus clamping said tablike member in fretting engagement with the fifth string of the banjo.
 7. The device of claim 6 in which said main body member includes guide means for guidingly constraining said line whereby the tension being applied thereto aids in assuring optimum engagement of said tablike member with the fifth string of the banjo.
 8. The device of claim 6 in which said guide means includes a hole for extending through said main body member. 